WARR ACRES — Churchgoers are outraged over a crucifix in a Catholic church that they say shows an image of genitalia on Jesus.

The controversial crucifix has caused a deep divide among members of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, where it hangs above the main altar.

"There are a couple people who have left the parish,” said the Rev. Philip Seeton, the church’s pastor. "There are people in the parish who don’t like it and have stayed.”

Critics of the crucifix take issue with what appears to be a large penis covering Jesus’ abdominal area. Seeton said the portion of the crucifix in question is meant to be Jesus’ abdomen "showing distension” — not a penis.

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"I think it was painted according to the certain specific rules of iconography and church art,” Seeton said of the crucifix.

There must be a clinical term for this form of pareidolia where people see penises. The phallus and genitalia happens to be such easily combined object types that they're going to appear in a great deal of sub-patterns within larger works.